Calling all-ins from the Big Blind



Calling all-ins from the big blind in the early game

Here are my Super Turbo SNG early game default calling ranges for those times that someone (other than the small blind) open shoves, and I am in the big blind.

300/30 (300 chips at the 15/30 blind level)

This is the most common early game scenario where you have 300 chips in the big blind (before posting) and one of your opponents open pushes. Everyone else folds, and it's up to you. Usually there are 7-9 players remaining at this stage. It actually doesn't matter which position your opponent is shoving from. The only thing that matters is his shoving range. Of course players typically shove a wider range as their position improves.

After allowing for a little bit of extra edge (0.3 in SNG Wizard) for your skill advantage over the field (and excluding AA and KK, since most players limp or make smaller raises with these hands), here's are my calling ranges.

opponent pushing 4.4%, which is TT+, AK, AQs+
call with JJ+, AK

opponent pushing 6% , which is 88+, AQ+, AJs+ (this is the minimum opponent shoving range where you can call with TT)
call with TT+, AK

opponent pushing 7.5%, which is 77+, AJ+, ATs+ (this is the minimum opponent shoving range where you can call with 99)
call with 99+, AK

opponent pushing 9.6%, which is 55+, AT+, A9s+ (this is the minimum opponent shoving range where you can call with 88)
call with 88+, AQ+

opponent pushing 12.5%, which is 44+, A9+, A5s+, KJs+ (this is the minimum opponent shoving range where you can call with 77)
call with 77+, AQ+, AJs+

opponent pushing 15.6%, which is 33+, A7+, A4s+, KTs+ (this is the minimum opponent shoving range where you can call with 66)
call with 66+, AJ+, ATs+

opponent pushing 20%, which is 33+, A4+, A2s+ ,KQ+ ,KTs+ (this is the minimum opponent shoving range where you can call with 55)
call with 55+, AT+, A9s+

opponent pushing 23.6%, which is 22+, A2+, KJ+, K9s+, QJs+ (this is the minimum opponent shoving range where you can call with 44)
call with 44+, AT+, A9s+

opponent pushing 45.7%, which is 22+, A2+, K2+, Q6+, Q2s+, J9+, J7s+, T8s+ (the minimum opponent shoving range where you can call with 33)
call with 33+, A5+, A2s+, KT+, K9s+

opponent pushing 97.2%, which is everything but 62, 42 and 32 (this is the minimum opponent shoving range where you can call with 22)
call with 22+, A2+, K2+, Q6+, Q3s+, J8+, J6s+, T9+, T7s+, 98s+

Remember the opponent pushing ranges shown above exclude AA and KK.

NOTE: You should call tighter if you were on the button facing an all-in, since you are getting worse pots odds than you are in the big blind. Also, you should call tighter the more players there are left to act after you. So if the UTG player shoves and you are next to act (seated to his immediate left), you would have to call tighter than if you were instead on the button, because on the button there are fewer potential overcallers. NOTE: A good player that knows you're a good player, might push slightly wider when you're in the big blind, because he knows you will correctly be calling very tight.

END: calling all-ins article

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